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THE LEAGUE AT WORK SERIES 

FIFTY SOCIAL EVENINGS 

FOR EPWORTH LEAGUES 
AND THE HOME CIRCLE 

BY 

MRS. ANNIE E. SMILEY 



WITH 



AN INTRODUCTION BY REV W. I. HAVEN 




NEW YORK: HUNT & EATO^ 
CINCINNATI : CRANSTON & CURTS 



5^ 



Copyright, 1894, by 
HUNT & EATON, 

New York. 



LC Control Number 




tmp96 026332 



Composition, electrotypingy printing, and binding by 

HUNT & EATON, 

150 Fifth Avenue, New York. 



TO HELP 
THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL WORK 

IN THEIR EFFORTS TO MAKE THE 

LEAGUE SOCIALS 

BRIGHT, ENTERTAINING, AND INSTRUCTIVE 

THIS LITTLE BOOK IS WRITTEN, AND IS 

RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED 

TO THE 

TWELVE THOUSAND FOURTH VICE PRESIDENTS 

OF THE 

EPWORTH LEAGUE. 



CONTENTS. 



PAGE 

1. Quartered Quotations 9 

2. Literary Salad 9 

3. Nutting Party 10 

4. Uncompleted Quotations 11 

5. Plagiarism 12 

6. Rhyming Contest. 12 

7. Illustrated Poems 13 

8. Illustrated Nursery Rhymes 14 

9. Living Rulers 14 

10. Cozy Tea 15 

11. Conundrum Social 16 

12. Penny Social 17 

13. Flower Social 19 

14. Rose Lawn Party 20 

15. Dolls' Reception 21 

16. An Apple Party 23 

17. Corn Festival 24 

18. Veterans' Reception 25 

19. Camp Fire 26 

20. Rival Camps 28 

21. Valentine Social 29 

22. Lady Washington Reception ..... 30 

23. Epworth Guards' Drill 31 

24. Parliamentary Drill 32 

25. District " Skule " 33 



6 Contents. 

PAGE 

26. Geography Game 34 

27. Improved Spelling Match 37 

28. Pronouncing Match 38 

29. Fortune Telling by Numbers 39 

30. " Hit or Miss " Social 40 

3 1 . Conversation Social 42 

32. Cradle Songs of All Nations 44 

33. Birthday Evening 44 

34. Scrapbook Social . ." 46 

35. Cobweb Social 47 

36. Cooking School 48 

37. A Tourists' Social .49 

38. Autograph Social 50 

39. The Family Picture Gallery 52 

40. Grandma's Garden 54 

41. Observation Party 55 

42. Information Party 56 

43. Acting Charades and Proverbs . . . . 58 

44. Historical Characters and Impersonations. 59 

45. Parlor Concert 61 

46. Crayon Social . ... 62 

47. Illustrated Book Titles 63 

48. Book Reviews 65 

49. Feast of All Nations 66 

50. Souvenir Social 67 

A Dollar, Experience or Talent Social . . 68 



INTRODUCTION, 



WHO has not read "The Arabian Nights " and 
delighted in the art that kept a restless mon- 
arch entertained so many months? More restless 
than a monarch is the American mind. ' ' What shall 
I do next ? " is its most frequent question. Most of us 
are soon at our wits' end in answering this question in 
our social life, and will welcome eagerly this little 
volume from a modern Scheherezade, the wife of 
one of our pastors. 

She describes here, with that care in detail that is 
so necessary and so helpful, a series of elevating 
entertainments that any group of young people can 
successfully carry out. She has tested most of these 
receipts and so knows that they will work. I must 
confess to real pleasure in reading every word of this 
volume. Aromas and visions of happy evenings come 
from the sentences much as savory odors haunt one 
when scanning a cookbook. 

I hope the volume will have a wide circulation 
and help to solve the problem of social evenings 
in our Church life. 

William Ingraham Haven. 

Brookline, Mass. 



FIFTY SOCIAL EVENINGS. 



1. QUARTERED QUOTATIONS. 

A NUMBER of interesting evenings, where the 
chief entertainment is found in choice quota- 
tions, given in different forms, will be grouped to- 
gether, but each will be found sufficient in itself for 
an evening's amusement. 

For Quartered Quotations have each selection 
written plainly on large cards. These cards are 
then marked in zigzag lines, and each card is cut, 
with a sharp knife, into four pieces. 

As the young people enter the room a quarter 
section is given to each, and a lively search then be- 
gins to find the other three who have the missing 
parts of the quotation card. 

When all the pieces are matched one of each 
quartet reads the quotation and tells the author's 
name. If this is not given correctly any other four 
can call out the correct name of the author and secure 
the quartered quotation. The four having the largest 
number at the close of the contest are declared the 
winners. 

2. LITERARY SALAD. 

This is not a new game, but may be made ever 
new by varying the quotations. 



10 Fifty Social Evenings. 

A hundred leaves of pale green tissue paper are 
cut out and crimped to represent lettuce leaves, and 
these form the basis of the salad. A hundred choice 
selections from favorite authors are plainly written 
on slips of paper, and these are each pinned or 
sewed to a lettuce leaf. Each quotation is numbered, 
and a corresponding list of numbers and authors' 
names is kept for reference. These salad leaves are 
arranged in overlapping rows on a large plate or 
serving tray, and are passed to everyone in the 
room. As many as desire to take part in the game 
take one leaf, and then the contest begins. Each per- 
son rises, reads his quotation, and tells the author. If 
he cannot tell, he says, " I don't know," and the first 
person calling out the correct name secures the salad 
leaf, which is carried to him. At a recent contest in 
which I took part one young lady secured eighteen 
of the one hundred leaves, and won the simple prize 
of a package of candy. It is not necessary to give 
out all the salad leaves before beginning the game, 
as the dish may be passed again after the first help- 
ing is disposed of. 

Perhaps it is needless to say that the quotations 
selected should be very familiar ones, as these are 
much more enjoyable than obscure ones. 

3. NUTTING PARTY. 

This, if rightly managed, will give an evening 
of rare fun, and will effectually break up any feeling 
of constraint or timidity among the young people. 
It is well to have a new barn or unfurnished house in 
which to hold the social, as it is a little boisterous 
for a private home or League room. , A peck or 



Fifty Social Evenings. 11 

more of peanuts are to be hidden in different places 
about the room where they may be easily reached. 

When the members of the nutting party arrive 
each person is supplied with a small five cent 
market basket, and at a given signal they start 
around the room, filling their baskets as they find 
the nuts. 

Ten minutes are given to the search, and the party 
is then called to order, and each reports the number 
of nuts secured. The one finding the largest num- 
ber is given a small prize if desired. Among the 
hidden peanuts a good number of English walnuts 
should be placed, and in each of these should be 
found a humorous quotation. 

This can easily be accomplished by writing the 
humorous selection on thin pieces of paper, folding 
compactly and placing each inside a perfect walnut 
shell, which is then glued together. 

After the quotations are read and laughed over a 
reserve supply of peanuts is passed, and all the small 
baskets are filled, only to be emptied again by the 
tired but happy nutting party. 

4. UNCOMPLETED QUOTATIONS. 

This is best adapted to a small circle in a home 
social. Some one begins a rather long prose ex- 
tract or poem and recites one or two lines ; some 
one else continues until he forgets or misquotes, 
when it is taken up by another, and so on, until it is 
finished. If familiar selections like " The Charge of 
the Light Brigade," Poe's "Raven," Gray's 
''Elegy," and Longfellow's "Building of the 
Ship " are quoted, you will be surprised to find what 



12 Fifty Social Evenings. 

enthusiasm it awakes in many who have hardly 
quoted poetry since their school days. 

5. PLAGIARISM. 

This is a very interesting game for those who are 
fond of rhyming. Each one is invited to prepare at 
home and bring a short rhyme or prose composition 
in imitation of the style of some well-known writer. 
If in verse copy the meter carefully, and if a prose 
imitation is attempted choose some writer whose 
style is extremely original, like Thomas Carlyle, 
Charles Kingsley, or Daniel Webster. Each mem- 
ber of the party is to be furnished with a card and 
pencil, and as each imitation is read the author 
imitated is silently guessed and the name written on 
the card. 

These authors' names are numbered, and after all 
have been written the cards are collected and cor- 
rected by some one who has a true list, obtained 
from the plagiarists themselves. If these cards are 
decorated with pen and ink sketches on one side they 
will make amusing souvenirs of a very pleasant 
evening. 

6. RHYMING CONTEST. 

This is something like the old-fashioned " spelling 
down," a feature of the spelling match. The play- 
ers are ranged in a line and the first one begins : 

44 The League stood on the League room floor." 
The next in line perhaps adds, 

44 A bold bad boy stood at the door." 



Fifty Social Evenings. 13 

The next, if wise, changes the rhyme, 

41 His face was stamped with want and sin." 

Number four finishes the verse triumphantly, 

*j " The League together cried, Come in." 

ft anyone is unable to find a rhyming line he is 
11 spelled down " and retires from the contest. 

A very remarkable story is developed as the game 
goes on, as it is not necessary to be consistent, and 
a very generous poet's license is allowed. This is 
as keenly enjoyed by the listeners as by those who 
* take part. The rhymes as they are given should be 
written down and read entire at the close. 

7. ILLUSTRATED POEMS. 

This is- something more elaborate than anything 
we have attempted, and requires more careful prepa- 
ration. A descriptive poem, like Lowell's "The 
* Courtin'," or Whittier's " Maud Muller," is read, and 
as the reading progresses it is illustrated by living 
pictures. " 0, but." says somebody, " that will re- 
quire curtains, and we don't want to put curtains in 
our church." There are often folding doors in a 
church vestry, these may be used, or this social may 
be held in a private home and the portieres between 
the double parlors can be used. I saw some very 
pretty pictures illustrating " The Courtin'." 'Zekiel 
was first seen "peekin' thru the winder," and next 
came " Huldy, all alone," with her pan of red- 
cheeked apples in her lap. The pictures of " mother 
sprinklin' clothes," and "she gin 'em both her 
blessing," led up to the last one : 'Zekiel and Huldy 
standing in rustic bridal finery as the poem ends. 



14 Fifty Social Evenings. 



8. ILLUSTRATED NURSERY RHYMES. 

This is particularly adapted for a Junior League 
entertainment, though older people enjoy it. " Little 
Bo Peep," "Little boy blue," "Tommy Tucker," 
and "Jackie Horner" appear and repeat or sing their 
nursery rhymes. A variation would be to have them 
appear on the platform in silence, and have the 
audience guess their identity. 

9. LIVING RULERS. 

A number of slips of paper are prepared in each of 
which is written the name of some country, as 
Spain, Germany, Turkey, Egypt, United States, etc. 

These are passed and each who will takes one. 
They are then called upon in regular order and each 
responds by rising, reading the name of the country 
from the paper, and giving the name of the present 
ruler of that country or kingdom. If the name is not 
known, or is given incorrectly, the first one who gives 
the right name receives the piece of paper, and the 
number possessed at the end of the game by any one 
person declares the winner. It would not be fair to 
introduce this game without giving previous warning, 
as even the best read person would need to do some 
studying and looking up to feel qualified to take part 
in such a contest. 

This may be made very interesting by having a 
short sketch prepared descriptive of each of the more 
prominent rulers, ancThaving them read during the 
evening. National songs like " Die Wacht am 
Rhein," " Hail Columbia," " God Save the Queen," 
and others can be introduced with good effect. Invite 



Fifty Social Evenings. 15 

the school teachers and other scholarly persons when- 
ever you have an interesting literary program, and 
they will help to make it a success. Perhaps some 
one will say that such games as this are an infringe- 
ment on the Literary Department of the Epworth 
League. 

To such I would say that our young people have 
reached that stage of intellectual development when 
an evening's amusement without the literary element 
is " flat, stale, and unprofitable." Such evenings as 
the one just described only serve to stimulate an 
interest in our Reading Course and other distinctly 
literary work. 

The literary and social departments may unite in 
preparing and carrying out the programs of many of 
these social evenings. And in many places where 
it is impossible to carry on purely literary work, these 
exercises will be enjoyed. 

lO. COZY TEA. 

Perhaps someone has been wondering if we are 
never to have anything to eat at our social evenings. 
At a First District Annual Convention I heard some- 
one say that the letters E. L. meant " Eat Light," but 
that isn't saying we should not eat at all. So the 
Cozy Tea will be found a very pleasant way of 
spending an evening. 

Have ten or more small tables, each capable of 
seating four or six people, and give each table in 
charge of a young lady who will decorate and arrange 
it herself. Here her friends gather as if it were at 
home, and are served with tea, cocoa, or coffee, and 
delicate sandwiches or cake. A small amount may 



16 



Fifty Social Evenings. 



be charged if desired, but experience has shown that 
free socials are much better than where a price is 
charged. The food for simple refreshments is usu- 
ally readily given, and the money needed for the 
few articles that must be bought will be cheerfully 
contributed by members of the League This is a 
pleasant way of entertaining a visiting young people's 
society, or any other guests of the League. The room 
should be made homelike and cozy with rugs, par- 
lor lamps, books, pictures, and easy chairs. 

A short literary and musical program may follow 
the tea and complete the evening's enjoyment. 

11. CONUNDRUM SOCIAL. 

This may also take the form of a supper, and it 
affords a good deal of amusement if well planned and 
carried out. Menu cards should be previously pre- 
pared, with the bill of fare written or printed upon 
them in conundrum form. If these cards are deco- 
rated on one side by a pen and ink drawing, or water 
color spray of flowers, it will add much to their 
beauty. In nearly every party of young people two 
or three can be found who are willing to do this work 
A good deal of ingenuity and originality will find play 
in planning these conundrum menus. I will give a 
sample, rather as a suggestion than as a model. 

MENU. 

1 . What our grandmothers used to card (rolls). 

2. Something most needed . . . (bread) 

3. A playful Nanny goat (bu tter)' 

4. Condensed Curd (cheese). 

5. Corned unruly member .... (tongue). 



Fifty Social Evenings. 17 

6. Shellfish mixture .... (lobster salad). 

7. Impertinence (sauce). 

8. Most precious mineral mixture (gold cake). 

9. Bathing appliance cake .... (sponge). 

10. Girls' names (olives). 

1 1 . Sidewalk Slippers (bananas). 

12. What babies and brides receive . . (kisses). 

Of course these words in parenthesis are omitted, 
as the guessing is a part of the fun. 

Long tables are to be used, arranged in the form 
of a hollow square or rectangle, in order to bring 
people near together. After the guests are seated an 
attendant waits on each person and receives his 
order. This is given by writing one's own name on 
the card and putting a cross against five of the arti- 
cles on the menu. The waiter then takes the card 
and soon appears with the order, and not until then 
does the guest know what he is going to have for 
supper, unless he is a good guesser. Any additional 
articles desired can be brought after the first order, 
and those who ordered numbers 3, 4, 7, 10, and 12 
would certainly need something else. 

After the supper is disposed of the guests, still sitting 
at the table, each give an original or selected conun- 
drum for the rest to guess, and, at the close of this 
evening's entertainment, no one will pronounce it 
dull. 

12. PENNY SOCIAL. 

This is a pleasant amusement in a home gather- 
ing or small circle, or to break the ice in a larger 
party. Each person is supplied with a common 
copper cent, a pencil, and a piece of paper. The 
2 



18 Fifty Social Evenings. 

following conundrums are then propounded, the 
answers to be found on the two sides of the penny, 
and written down on the papers. Find on a penny 
the following articles and objects : 

A part of a needle (eye). 

What spans a river (bridge). 

Spring flowers (tulips). 

A famous hotel in the White Mountains (Profile). 

A connecting piece of land (neck). 

What drummers are accused of having (cheek). 

What burglars pick (locks). 

What slaves often received .... (lashes). 

A part of a hill (brow). 

A part of a river T (mouth). 

Part of a Chinaman's name (chin). 

Youth and age (18 and 94). 

What Patrick Henry wanted .... (liberty). 
Players on musical instruments . . . (band). 

A symbol of lightness (feathers). 

A product of maize (ear). 

Used in Indian embroidery .... (beads). 

What the mails contain (letters). 

What are used on letters (stamps). 

A part of a nail . (head). 

A numeral (figure). 

What is used in a rifle ([eye] ball). 

A heathen place of worship .... (temple). 
What a bald man-lacks . . . . . . (hair). 

A messenger (one sent). 

Name of a public man (Garland). 

A weapon of warfare (bow). 

A kind of plant (arrow head). 



Fifty Social Evenings. 19 

Parts of a book (leaves). 

A portion of armor ........ (shield). 

Conditions (states). 

Undivided (united. 

The name of a mineral product . . (copper). 

A perfume (scent). 

The name of a great country '. . . (America). 

Other questions may be suggested by these, or 
other forms of these may be used. It will be a sur- 
prise to many to find the number of hidden things 
there are in even the most common objects about us. 

These pennies may be collected and kept until the 
talent social, which I shall soon describe. They may 
then be given out to return, some thirty, some sixty, 
and some a hundred fold. A paper describing the 
minting of coins, the value of rare ones, etc., will be 
interesting to follow this game. 

13. FLOWER SOCIAL. 

This would naturally come in the summer when 
flowers are abundant. It is especially adapted for 
Junior Leagues. Each person is invited to bring a 
bouquet, composed entirely of one kind of flowers. 

For instance one brings roses, another pansies, a 
third daises, and so on with a great number of flow- 
ers in bloom at the same time. One child should be 
dressed as Flora, the Goddess of the flowers, with a 
white dress looped up with roses, and a wreath of 
flowers on her head. She sits by a table, decorated 
with ferns and green leaves, and as each one brings 
up her offering of flowers, a short recitation or quota- 
tion appropriate . to the flowers is given, and the 



20 Fifty Social Evenings. 

flowers are then handed to Flora, who places them 
in vases and bowls of water on her table. Songs 
about flowers, as "Only a pansy blossom," " My 
love is like a flower," and " Sweet Violets," may 
be given, and if sung by children, will be acceptable 
even if they are not new. 

After the offering of the flowers ice cream and 
cake may be served, and it will make it especially 
dainty if a tiny bunch of flowers is laid on each folded 
paper napkin as the plates are passed. 

The flowers should be sent to the sick or aged 
people of the place, or to some flower mission, 
hospital, or prison. 

Quotations descriptive of flowers, may be found in 
all the poets from Burns' " Wee, crimson tipped 
daisy," to Mrs. Browning's " Song of the Rose." 

14. ROSE LAWN PARTY. 

The month of June, when there are roses every- 
where, is the time to enjoy this dainty social. 

An arch of roses over the entrance to the lawn is 
very pretty. A canopy, bordered with roses, un- 
der which is a flower table presided over by girls in 
dresses of white, yellow, and rose color makes a 
bright bit of color for the center of the lawn. A 
small gypsy tent, decorated with roses, and with a 
dark haired Sibyl in the doorway, is picturesque. 

A flower girl with a basket of roses on her arm 
should stand at the entrance and decorate each one 
as they enter ; the gentlemen with rosebuds, and the 
ladies with full blown roses. 

Of course this lawn party should be open in the 
afternoon as well as in the evening, as the rose 



Fifty Social Evenings. 21 

decorations are most beautiful by daylight. But, by 
using Chinese lanterns of the various rose colors, it 
will also look very beautiful at night. A tissue paper 
table with roses, bon bon boxes, picture frames, and 
other pretty souvenirs of the occasion will be an at- 
traction, and the articles will find a ready sale. 

A table of home-made candies is popular with the 
young people, and light refreshments, sandwiches, 
coffee, ice cream, and cake, are always in demand. 

I really attended such a rose lawn party, and the 
memory of its beauty and charm may account for 
my enthusiasm in describing it. 

15. DOLLS' RECEPTION. 

This is a good Junior League entertainment, and 
may be held either with real dolls or living dolls. If 
dollies are used, it is well to have a large number 
prepared to send in a mission box or to give to poor 
children, and these gift dolls should be exhibited on 
a table by themselves. The plainer and cheaper 
dolls can be dressed with caps and aprons, with 
small brooms, dustpans, etc., in their hands, and be 
grouped as if engaged in their work. 

A number of dolls can be seated at a small table as 
if enjoying a tea party together, with a doll's tea set 
before them, and small quantities of real food to eat. 

Baby dolls should be in small cribs, cradles, and 
carriages, with nurse dolls in attendance. A group 
of historic dolls will prove a great attraction. Every- 
one who saw the two cases of beautiful dolls in the 
Woman's Building at the World's Fair at Chicago, 
will know what I mean. 

The case of American dolls represented the styles 



22 Fifty Social Evenings. 

of dress from the time of the Puritan maiden, in her 
prim cape and peaked hat, to the present society belle, 
with her huge puffed sleeves and ample skirts. The 
demure Quaker maiden, with her dove-colored dress 
and soft mull neckerchief was there, and the gay 
ballroom beauty with her rich brocades and laces. 
Women hovered around the beautiful exhibit all 
day, and as many more surrounded the case of French 
dolls dressed in the styles of Louis XIV, and in the 
empire gowns dear to the lovely and unfortunate 
Josephine. 

These styles could be copied in cheaper materials, 
and with beads and tinsel for gold and gems. 

A hospital ward with sick dolls in their little beds, 
would be an interesting feature, and an inclined 
plane, upon which a number of queer little brownies 
are turning somersaults, is a constant amusement. 
For entertainment, a Punch and Judy always de- 
lights the children, and the whack of Mr. Punch's 
wooden head, as he finds that ''the way of the 
transgressor is hard," is music to many older ones 
as well. 

A table devoted to the sale of dolls, another to that 
of stuffed animals dear to every baby's heart, with 
refreshment, candy, and fruit tables, transform the 
simple dolls' reception into a doll's carnival. 

Some very successful receptions have been held 
where the dolls were the little children themselves. 
They must be dressed to look as doll-like as possi- 
ble, and cautioned not to smile, speak, or cry when 
people look at them, but as this is entirely contrary 
to child nature, an exhibit of this kind could last 
only a few minutes. Twenty little girls dressed to 



Fifty Social Evenings. 23 

represent twenty different nations would be very 
pretty. The dark little girl, with her red skirt and 
Indian blanket, the black-eyed one in her Japanese 
kimono and big sash, and the blond German madchen 
would make a picture we should long remember, 
and all children love to be "dressed up." If a 
charitable object is to be benefited the children will 
enjoy it all the more. 

16. AN APPLE PARTY. 

Our grandmothers passed many merry evenings 
in apple-paring bees years ago, but the possibilities 
of the apple as a means of amusement were by no 
means exhausted. This entertainment is best suited 
to a small circle or home party. All the visitors are 
supplied with small plates, each containing a large 
apple and a fruit knife. The contest is now to see 
which shall be able to cut the longest unbroken ap- 
ple paring. 

A small prize of a silken apple may be given. 
The next contest is to see which shall take up with a 
spoon, and place in a basket, the largest number of 
apples. This is by no means as easy as would appear, 
since only the spoon is used to lift them. If a good deal 
of merriment is no objection, or this party takes the 
place of a Halloween observance, a number of the 
boys may bob for apples in a tub of water, and re- 
move them from the water with their teeth. Or a 
number of apples may be suspended on strings, and 
the contest be to see which shall first eat his apple 
without touching it with his hands. 

Two lines of young people may be formed and a 
number of apples passed from hand to hand, the side 



24 Fifty Social Evenings. 

passing the apples quickest without dropping one 
being the winners. Finally, light refreshments may- 
be served. Apple jelly, cake, tarts, apple snow, and 
baked apples and cream, with rolls and coffee or 
chocolate would be appropriate. 

17. CORN FESTIVAL. 

No other entertainment of the year can be made 
more delightful and acceptable than this, if sufficient 
effort is put into planning and carrying it out. 

The decorative possibilities of Indian corn are in- 
exhaustible, and its edible qualities are almost as 
great. A large quantity of corn should be secured 
to be used in decorating the hall or room where the 
festival is to be held. 

A wigwam, made of stacked stalks of corn, with 
its tassels and unhusked ears, is beautiful and pic- 
turesque. Festoons of braided corn in different 
colors give a festive appearance to the room ; plumes 
of the tassels and clusters of silky white husks may 
be used in decoration. The supper tables will pre- 
sent a pleasing appearance if yellow tissue paper 
napkins fringed on the edges and stood in the glasses 
are used. The shades of the lamps may also be of 
crimped golden yellow paper, which gives a beauti- 
ful effect. Below may be found a good 

BILL OF FARE. 

Golden^Corn Muffins. 

Hot Corn Bread. 

Rye and Indian Bread. 

Corned Beef, Corned Tongue. 

Succotash. 



Fifty Social Evenings. 25 

Hulled Corn and Milk. 

Hominy, plain and fried. 

Hominy Fritters and Maple Sirup. 

Baked Indian Pudding with Cream. 

Corn Sponge Cake. 

Popped Corn and Cornballs. 

After such a supper all will vote for the corn 
festival. 

18. VETERANS' RECEPTION. 

I think no other observance is more general in our 
Epworth Leagues than some form of recognition of 
our old and elderly people. But, though so generally 
observed, I think we may find a few suggestions of 
new features in these socials to be of value. Instead 
of arranging the League room in its usual modern 
style with piano lamps, parlor rugs, easels, etc., it 
will be an agreeable surprise to the elderly people to 
find a room looking like the cheery, big kitchens in 
which they had their merrymakings many years 
ago. 

With a little effort a big spinning wheel and an old 
fashioned dasher churn may be borrowed of some of 
the old people themselves. Strings of dried apples 
may be hung about an improvised fireplace, or, better 
still, a real one. A high-backed settle may be placed 
near, and a number of those quaint, high-backed 
chairs. Of course, comfortable chairs and rocking 
chairs should also be furnished for those who prefer 
them. Braided rugs on the floor, wooden crickets, 
and small, round claw-foot tables, with plenty of 
lighted candles upon them, will make the room look 
homelike in 44 ye olden style." An entertainment 



26 Fifty Social Evenings. 

consisting of readings, songs, and stories will be en- 
joyed, and a few old-time songs and hymns in which 
the guests of the evening can join will be appreciated. 
Everything should be cheerful without being frivo- 
lous, for the aged have experienced too many sor- 
rows to be as gay as the young. 

If the guests can be persuaded to take part in a 
symposium of old experiences it would be enjoyable 
to them, as well as to their young entertainers. A 
comparison of experiences on " my first watch," in 
the " Epworth Herald," shows what I mean. If they 
should begin telling about " my first watch," " my 
first suit of store clothes, " ' ' my first visit to the city, ' ' 
and other early experiences it would need a watch- 
night service to complete them all. 

A good supper, with some old-time dishes, should 
be served early in the evening, and before it becomes 
late the dear old people should be carefully returned 
to their homes in close carriages. That no one may 
be sensitive at being counted old, it is well to set the 
ages at seventy and over. 

19. CAMP FIRE. 

This is something like the preceding, only young 
people, instead of old, gather around the fireplace 
and tell stories. Each is previously invited to bring 
some incident — amusing, thrilling, or ridiculous, to 
add to the general fund. It does not do to trust to 
the spur of the moment for inspiration at such times, 
for I have always found that spur to be a dull one. 
In almost every entertainment that is worth anything 
someone has to do a good deal of thinking and plan- 
ning beforehand to make it a success. I remember 



1 



Fifty Social Evenings. 27 

hearing one of our popular young League ministers 
tell a good story of his experience with a disrespect- 
ful parrot. The minister in question had called on 
an old lady whose sole companion was a solemn- 
looking parrot, no more renowned for piety than 
parrots generally are. 

The bird usually had the monopoly of conver- 
sations with his mistress, and did not enjoy hearing 
her talking earnestly with her pastor and ignoring 
him. 

He kept his thoughts to himself, however, until the 
young pastor knelt to pray, and then, at intervals, a 
solemn response would come from the parrot : "0, 
shut up! O, shut up ! " It is surprising how many 
amusing experiences we have all had, if we only can 
bring ourselves to tell and laugh over what perhaps 
at the time was no laughing matter. This form of 
entertainment may be called a Faggot Party, by 
having each person bring a faggot of wood and 
place it on the fire in the fireplace as the story begins. 
The story is supposed to last until the faggot burns 
out. 

No other light is needed in the room during the 
story-telling, except the cheerful glow of the open 
fire. Corn may be popped, apples roasted, and 
nuts cracked, and college songs or war songs sung 
with no other accompaniment than the musical 
crackling of the fire. If one or more veterans of 
the civil war is invited to be present it is more than 
probable that he can tell delightful stories of army 
camp fires, when the coffee was ground with the butt 
of the musket, and the salt pork broiled on a pointed 
stick. 



1 



28 Fifty Social Evenings. 



20. RIVAL CAMPS. 

This game requires a large room and a large 
number of players to make it interesting. 

Have the chairs arranged in two large circles at 
opposite sides of the room. Two persons are placed 
in charge of these two camps, and each chooses in 
turn the persons whom he wishes to belong to his 
camp. After all are chosen and seated, each camp 
chooses one of its number to retire together from 
the room and agree upon some person, place, or 
object for the rival camps to guess. 

The two chosen ones then return to the room, and 
each goes to the other's camp. Questions are now 
asked in turn of the one coming to the camp, for 
the purpose of discovering the object agreed upon. 
For instance, number one asks, " Is it in this room? " 
The answer perhaps is, "Yes." Number two then 
asks, " Is it in this half of the room ? " The answer 
is again, "Yes." Number three perhaps asks, "Is 
it in the animal kingdom ? " The answer is, " No," 
and so it certainly is not a person. So the questions 
go on around each circle, and the camp first finding 
out the object shouts out the victory, and the leader 
or captain is entitled to choose one away from the 
rival camp, besides keeping the one who came to them 
to be questioned. Two more now leave the room, 
choose another object, and return in the same way ; 
and this continues, if Jhe interest holds out, until one 
camp has overwhelmingly beaten the other, and the 
rival surrenders. This is a newer and more interest- 
ing way of playing what is sometimes called ' 'Twenty 
Questions." 



Fifty Social Evenings. 29 

All these questions must be framed so that they 
can be answered by yes or no, and the aim of those 
choosing the objects should be to make them too 
easy, instead of too hard. 

The experienced player may be able to follow the 
train of questions until he finds the torch in the hand 
of the Statue of Liberty in New York harbor, or the 
top stone of the great pyramid in Egypt, but the 
novice will find it much easier to discover the hymn 
book, the gas globe, or the call bell. 

21. VALENTINE SOCIAL. 

This should be held two or three evenings before 
St. Valentine's Day that the dainty, homemade 
valentines may be sold. We have all tired of the 
gay lace paper variety, decked with hearts and 
cupids, which delighted "ye maiden of ye olden 
time," and for the vulgar comic valentine there was 
never any excuse ; but we all have a bit of senti- 
ment left, and a loving thought or wish coming at 
that time is always welcome. 

The beautiful decorative work done with plain and 
crape tissue paper will suggest many ways of mak- 
ing dainty valentines : a circle, heart, diamond, or 
square covered with the crape paper, smoothly laid 
over and ornamented with a tiny bow of satin ribbon 
and a few tissue paper flowers ; violets, carnations, 
and primroses are pretty, and are not hard to make. 

For those who can paint in oil or water colors, 
celluloid, cut in pretty shapes, and the various ragged 
edge cards, painted and tied with ribbons, are very 
pretty. A little motto, original if possible, will show 
its significance. A little snow landscape with the 



80 Fifty Social Evenings. 

motto, " It is not winter in my heart." A bunch of 
forget-me-nots with the words "I remember you," 
or of violets with the words "Sweet and true" 
underneath, illustrate my meaning. Ice cream, 
cake, candy, and flowers may be sold, and a mu- 
sical and literary program add to the evening's 
entertainment. 

22, LADY WASHINGTON RECEPTION. 

Have the room decorated with flags, pictures of 
Washington and other Revolutionary heroes, old 
flintlock muskets, and any other relics that can be 
obtained. 

This entertainment would naturally come on the 
evening of Washington's birthday, and is prettily 
carried out by children, who look very quaint in the 
old-time costumes. 

Two children are dressed to represent George and 
Martha Washington, and the others in garments 
made in the fashion of those days. These costumes 
can be improvised and arranged at home, and shoe 
buckles and knee buckles will be made by the tinman 
for a small sum. General Washington and his little 
bride stand in state to receive the guests, and boy 
ushers in small clothes and knee buckles escort the 
visitors to the receiving group, introduce them, and 
then take them away, just as would be done at a 
regular reception. 

If an old-time supper is served it is well to remem- 
ber that the " Father of his Country " was a Southern 
gentleman, and fried chicken and biscuits, or corn 
pone and bacon, with oranges for dessert, would be 
in better keeping than the brown bread and baked 



Fifty Social Evenings. 31 

beans of old New England days. For songs, " Amer- 
ica, " " Yankee Doodle, ' ' and ' ' The Sword of Bunker 
Hill" are appropriate, and for readings, " Paul Re- 
vere's Ride," "The Declaration of Independence," 
or some of the extracts from ' 'Abigail Adams's diary' ' 
will help us to realize " the tender grace of a day that 
is dead," a day of kind hearts, but cold and stately 
manners. I have lately read of a similar entertain- 
ment, except it was called a " Grandpa and Grandma 
Social." The receiving party were children, dressed 
to represent a golden wedding, with best man and 
bridesmaid and little old clergyman. ^ 

The wedding march and the inevitable original 
poem form a part of this entertainment, but I think 
the first form of the entertainment by far the better 
one, as our children learn about characters and 
events in our national history, and develop a spirit 
of patriotism in their play, and in all our entertain- 
ments for the young there should be something that 
will instruct as well as amuse. This is the secret of 
the great success of the kindergarten system of in- 
struction. 

23. EPWORTH GUARDS' DRILL. 

We have had for years a great variety of drills. 
Milkmaids', .sailors',; broom, fan, and dolls' drills 
have amused us, and fair Greek maidens, in cheese- 
cloth draperies and sandaled feet, have shown -us 
possibilities of grace and beauty. We have now a 
sturdy company of boys, m simple uniform, the 
flower and pride of our Junior Epworth League 
movement. 

A large hall or vestry should be left clear in the 



32 Fifty Social Evenings. 

center, in the form of a hollow square, with seats on 
the four sides for the spectators. In this hollow 
square the Epworth Guards go through their different 
military movements, under the direction of their 
regular drillmaster. Music in march time usually 
accompanies the drill. If an intermission is planned, 
it will rest the drillers and will give an opportunity to 
serve ice cream and cake to the visitors. The Ep- 
worth Guards should not be forgotten in serving 
refreshments, for I have actually noticed, more than 
once, neglectful committees allowing entertainers 
to buy refreshments for themselves or go without. 
The nursery rhyme tells us " Little Tommy Tucker 
sang for his supper." How would Tommy have 
felt if, after singing his best, no supper was offered 
him ? 

As this drill requires weeks of careful preparation 
it is well worth an admission fee, and is enough in 
itself, with the aid of good music and light refresh- 
ments, to make a delightful evening's entertainment. 

24. PARLIAMENTARY DRILL. 

This is primarily to instruct a society of young 
people in proper parliamentary rules and usages. 
Cushing's Manual, or some other good authority, 
should be carefully studied beforehand, and someone 
skilled in political or ecclesiastical debate should be 
invited to preside. Some question of local interest 
may be considered, or some far-reaching national 
reform may be disposed of by these youthful debaters. 
A model town meeting may be held with its " Mr. 
Moderator," or a mock trial with its judge and jury. 
I attended a very amusing mock trial not long ago, 



Fifty Social Evenings. 33 

when the charge was the larceny of a loaf of bread, 

and the identical loaf, nearly a yard long, was in 

court. 

25. DISTRICT "SKULE." 

I certainly cannot claim that this form of enter- 
tainment is either new or original, but, in carrying it 
out, there is a great field for originality, and by 
making it intensely local, it may be irfade also very 
amusing. 

The only one I ever attended was held in Music 
Hall, Boston, two or three years ago. The " skule " 
.girls, in long calico aprons, short dresses, and braids 
of hair hanging down their backs, had fine gray hair 
under the pigtail braids, and brilliant brains under the 
fine gray hair. Mrs. E. Trask Hill, Mrs. Ednah D. 
Cheney, Mrs. Abby Morton Diaz, and other famous 
Boston women had charge of the exercises of the 
evening, and, I strongly suspect, were among the 
number of the school girls, but in that disguise, even 
their own sisters would hardly have known them. 

The " boys " were boys some fifty years ago, and 
one youth, in a bottle-green suit, with a shock of 
bright red hair, was a specimen any teacher might 
be proud of. 

A member of the geography class was asked — 
'• Who discovered America ? " " St. Patrick," re- 
plied the ready school girl. One of the spelling 
class was asked to spell "patriotism." It was the 
red-headed youth, and he began, " P-a-t-, Pat, r-i- 
o-t, riot, i-s- is, h-i-m, him, Pat-riot-is-him." Of 
course it passed to the next and was spelled correctly 
amid a chorus of laughter. 

The civil government class was asked, " What is 
3 



i 



34 Fifty Social Evenings. 

an alderman?" The answer was. "One of the 
city fathers who draws his salary, and spends his 
time going on junketing trips." 

1 may not have quoted the exercises of this bright 
school exactly as they occurred, as I depend wholly 
on my memory, but it will give the idea that I wish 
to convey, that the " skule " may be made delight- 
fully local and funny. 

For instance, the geography class might be asked, 
"What prominent doctor of this town is related to 
a great river?" The answer would be, "Dr. 
Waters, for the Mississippi River is called "the 
father of waters." In a town where there were a 
great number of single women, as there are in many 
towns of New England, the question might be asked, 
"Why are there more miles in our town than in 
many others of the same size?" The answer is, 
4 ' Because we have so many misses, and a miss is 
as good as a mile." These localisms are not very 
deeply intellectual, but they furnish the " little non- 
sense now and then," that the old rhyme tells us, 
" is relished by the best of men." The Fourth Vice 
President in our Epworth Leagues needs as quick 
wit and as careful study to make interesting enter- 
tainments as the most literary leader of a Ruskin 
Circle or a Browning Club. " Easy writing makes 
hard reading," someone says, and easy planning 
makes dull performing. 

26. GEdGRAPHY GAME. 

This will prove a delightful and instructive game, 
and, besides, it is something new. 

Have four sections of the room each arranged to 



\ 



Fifty Social Evenings. 35 

seat from ten to twenty or more persons, according 
to the number who wish to engage in the game. 

Have a little bannerette placed in each section, 

each of a different color, and on each have printed 

* the name of one of the four divisions of the United 

States, New England, Middle, Southern, and 

Western. 

Have the desired number of questions written on 
small cards, the same color as the bannerettes. If 
one hundred persons are to take part, have one hun- 
dred questions given out. The questions on New 
m England are written on cards the same color as the 
New England bannerette, and the same with the 
others. So each person, on looking at his card, 
knows at once to which section of the country he is 
to belong. 

Questions like the following are given out : 

What city would we need if there was to be 
another flood ? Newark is the answer. 

• What enterprising city reminds you of a shipload 
of ladies ? Chicago. 

What city reminds you of a factory and an English 
pedestrian ? Milwaukee. 

What river reminds you of a union, and what I do 
if I sever that union ? Connecticut. 

What river is indispensable in "a good Thanks- 

# giving dinner ? Onion River. 

What city in the South reminds you of what an 
umpire keeps and what he has ? Tallahassee 
(Tally-has-he). 

What city suggests something missing, and what 
a young man thinks his sweetheart is ? Los Angeles 
(Loss-angel-is). 



36 Fifty Social Evenings. 

I might easily go on and write out one hundred or 
more questions, but, if one takes a map of the 
United States and looks it over carefully, questions 
will suggest themselves without any difficulty. Now 
the questions are all given out, and each person f> ; 
looks at the card given him and goes at once to the 
section which the color of his card suggests. For 
instance, if it is salmon pink he looks at the banner- 
ettes and sees that he belongs in the New England 
section. If his color is red he belongs to the Middle 
section, if blue in the Southern, and if green in the 
Western. These colors are not chosen from any , 
suggestiveness, and others may as well be used, but 
I explain carefully, as many a good game has been 
spoiled by a meager and unsatisfactory description. 
When all have gathered in their respective sections, 
each reads his question to the others, who guess it. 
If no one can guess it the words " We give it up " 
are written upon it. No words are written on those 
correctly guessed. When all are guessed or given • 
up each section changes places with one of the 
others, also exchanging questions. The new set of 
questions is guessed or given up, and this is done 
until all have visited all the four sections and have 
guessed all the questions. If, at the end of the game, 
any questions are left which have been " given up " 
by all the players, the right answer is announced by # 
the one getting up the game. If any have been given 
up by two or three sections and guessed by the fourth, 
this should also be announced. 

For instance, it might be said, "The question, 
What is the jolliest river in New England ? was 
given up by New England, and by the Southern and 



V 



Fifty Social Evenings. 37 

Middle sections, but was correctly answered by the 
Western section ; the right answer is Merrimac." 
I hope I have made this game plain to all and that 
many will try it and enjoy it. If refreshments are 
desired apples in New England, cornballs in the 
Middle, peanuts in the Southern, and oranges in the 
Western sections will be appropriate. 

27. IMPROVED SPELLING MATCH. 

The spelling class may be "chosen up" as in 
choosing sides, but there should be only one line of 
^ contestants. 

The words to spell are not given out, but are 
evolved as they pass along from one to another. 
We will suppose there are thirty people making up 
the class. Number one begins a v/ord which per- 
haps he means to be " Constantinople." He gives 
the first letter, " C." The next, not knowing what 
the word is to be, but thinking in his mind of the 
word " Charleston," adds " h." The next thinks of 
" chestnut " and adds " e." Number four thinks 
of ' ' cheap, ' ' and adds ' ' a, " number five adds '* p, " 
number six adds " e,' number seven " n," number 
eight adds "i f " number nine "n," and number ten 
"g," making the word 4 ' cheapening " instead of 
" Constantinople." Number ten must now retire 
from the line, for to have a word end on you is fatal, 
and for that reason great ingenuity is often shown 
in changing and lengthening the word so it will con- 
tinue on to some one else. The next in line now 
begins another word in the same way, and this goes 
on until all are spelled down. The last one who 
remains standing may be spelled down with hard 



38 Fifty Social Evenings. 

words, or may be declared the victor without this 
formality. Anyone putting in a letter which blocks 
the word, or which would not spell any English 
word, is also obliged to retire from the line. This 
new form of spelling helps to sharpen wit, and is in 
practice very amusing. 

28. PRONOUNCING MATCH. 

Have the players stand in a line as in the previous 
game, and have the words to be pronounced written 
on a blackboard, one at a time. The first word 
written is perhaps " rise." The one writing should 
explain, " This word is a noun, meaning an elevation 
of ground." If it is not properly pronounced it 
passes to the next, and so on until it is given cor- 
rectly, all those failing retiring to their seats. Other 
frequently mispronounced words may follow, and the 
attempt should be, not to find words very difficult 
and seldom used but rather those in everyday use 
which are often mispronounced, such as discourse, 
romance, housewife, vase, subtle, exchequer, rabid, 
narrate, finance, machination, abdomen, etc. Some 
dictionary should be agreed upon as a standard of 
pronunciation, and in disputed cases the verdict of 
the authority should be accepted. 

Another way is to write or select from some book 
a passage containing a number of words most com- 
monly mispronounced, and have it read in turn, each 
person stopping when a mistake is made. 

I read a very good exercise of this kind in the 
" Youth's Companion" not long ago, but, if one 
cannot be found it may be improvised. The follow- 
ing shows what I mean : 



V 



Fifty Social Evenings. 39 

A family of Italians, living in the' utmost squalor, 
had concealed in their demesne a quantity of per- 
simmons, pecans, guavas, and bananas, which they 
. sold to keepers of abattoirs, as well as to unsuspect- 
4 ing housewives. 

29. FORTUNE TELLING BY NUMBERS. 

I have seen a small party of twenty or thirty young 
people who found sufficient entertainment in this 
game to continue playing it a whole evening. It is, 
however, a good game to play at any gathering when 
- the interest in something else flags and the question 
arises, "What shall we do next?" I have often 
carried two envelopes containing the duplicate num- 
bers in my pocket for several evenings before needing 
to use them ; for an entertainer, like a hostess, should 
never come to the end of her resources. 

Blank cards should be cut into inch squares, and 
on these small cards should be plainly written the 
numbers from one to one hundred. These should 
be carefully placed in an envelope or small box, and 
another hundred numbers should be prepared in just 
the same way and placed in another envelope. These 
should be marked "Numbers" and "Duplicate 
Numbers." This is very necessary, as the two sets 
of numbers must be kept carefully separated from 
each other. The ones marked " Numbers " should 
be given out to those who wish to take part in the 
game. If fifty are to play give each person two of 
the numbers ; if twenty-five take part give each 
person four numbers. It does not matter how many 
each have if all have the same number and all the 
numbers are given out. This latter is absolutely 



40 Fifty Social Evenings.* 

essential, as, if some of the numbers are missing, it 
spoils the game. So, if some have four numbers while 
others have only three, be sure and give them all out. 

The one conducting the game now seats herself — 
for a fortune teller is usually a woman — and opens 
the packet marked " Duplicate Numbers." She 
asks a question, for instance, " Who is the kindest- 
hearted person in the room?" She then takes up 
one of the numbers on the table and reads it. It may 
be number seventeen. Each person playing looks 
at his numbers, and the one having seventeen says, 
" It is I." An assistant, who has a list of all the 
names of those playing, writes against his name the 
words, "kindest hearted." Number seventeen now 
asks a question, " Which one in this circle is to be- 
come enormously rich? " The fortune teller again 
takes up a number and reads it. It may be twenty- 
five. The one having the number responds, has it 
recorded against his name, and then asks the next 
question. Where all the players are good friends 
amusing questions like "Who wears the biggest 
boots ? " 4 4 Which one is fond of onions ? " 4 ' Who is 
in love?" etc., will create a great deal of merriment. 

This is continued until all the numbers are called. 
If any of the players fail to think of a question when 
their turns come the fortune teller should have a 
number of amusing ones prepared. At the close of 
the game each one's record is read, creating much 
amusement. 

30. " HIT OR MISS" SOCIAL. 

This is somewhat like the "Crazy Tea" which 
was so fashionable in certain quarters while the 



Fifty Social Evenings. 41 

crazy quilt fever lasted. The more ridiculous features 
of that crazy time are omitted and the amusing ones 
retained. I actually attended a crazy tea where the 
soup was served in new tin washbasins, and the cake 
was placed on shining brown dustpans, while the 
napkin rings or holders were clothespins. 

At a " hit or miss " social things are not expected 
to match. The invitations may be written on backs 
of letters, visiting cards, or brown paper. The room 
may be furnished with the fine oak rocker from the 
parlor, the plain wood chair from the kitchen, grand- 
ma's chintz-covered wooden rocker, and the baby's 
high chair. 

The guests may wear either silk or calico, or a 
mixture of the two, as it happens, and, if one forgets 
to take off his rubber boots and another her apron 
it doesn't matter at a " hit or miss " social. At the 
supper, if one is served, anything eatable is in order, 
from hot flapjacks to fried onions, and, if part of the 
guests have their coffee or tea served in tiny painted 
cups, while others have various sizes from a teacup 
to a yellow mug or quart bowl, nobody complains. 

A hostess who makes this arrangement of dishes 
will not need to be troubled, as Mrs. Carlyle was, to 
make eleven cups do service for twelve people. For 
entertainment hit or miss questions and answers will 
be enjoyed. 

A number of questions and an equal number of 
answers are written on slips of paper and numbered. 
It is well to have the questions and answers written 
by two different persons, as the misfits will be all the 
more amusing. The person whose question is num- 
bered "one" finds the person having the answer 



42 Fifty Social Evenings. 

numbered " one." and these may read as follows: 
•' If you were not yourself, whom would you like to 
be?" The answer is likely to be. " A black-and- 
white setter dog." The answer to the question " Are 
you fond of poetry?" might be, " I'd rather go a 
fishing." When all the questions and answers have 
been read and laughed over the " hit or miss "social 
will be declared a success. 

31. CONVERSATION SOCIAL. 

We frequently hear it said that conversation is a 
lost art, and when we see a party of young people 
shy, embarrassed, and silent we are apt to believe 
it is true. But give these same young people some- 
thing in which they are interested to talk about, and 
they will have plenty to say. I remember reading 
of a genial and talkative commercial traveler who 
tried in vain to draw a silent old gentleman into con- 
versation. The drummer talked of the crops and 
the country through which they were passing on the 
train. The old gentleman assented without any 
show of interest. He then referred to the tariff and 
the doings of Congress. Still he had the conver- 
sation to himself. It was in vain that he suggested 
the subject of speculation in wheat, the hard times, 
and the recent prize fight. Nothing interested the 
old man, and the drummer betook himself to the 
smoking car in disgust. After he was gone a man 
in the seat in front turned round and said, dryly, 
11 That fellow didn't seem to interest you very much 
with his talk, did he ? " " No," said the old gentle- 
man. " he didn't, but if he had said ' hither* (leather) 
he'd a had me." So in these conversation socials 



Fifty Social Evenings. 43 

we want to select topics that everybody will be inter- 
ested in. Have a list of ten or more subjects written 
on a blackboard, each numbered, and have enough 
cards prepared with numbers corresponding to sup- 

! ply everyone with a card. Each person now goes 
about among the others securing names on his card, 
opposite the numbers. By looking on the blackboard 
I see that question number one is, "What would you 
do with one million dollars ? " I at once decide to 
invite Widow Atkinson to talk with me about that, 
and, on asking her to reserve that time for me, she 
5 *says with a smile, ' ' I don 't see how you think I would 

" know what to do with so much money, but then it 
won't do any harm to talk about it." Number two 
I find is, " Why am I a Methodist ? " and I hasten to 
secure the name of our pastor for that topic. As soon 
as all the cards are filled with names the signal is 
given and each person seeks the one whose name he 
has secured for that topic and the conversation be- 
gins. In just three minutes the call bell sounds, and 
everyone finds a new companion and begins talking 
on the second topic, and this is continued until all 
the topics have been conversed upon. 

If three or more wish to converse together on some 
one of the subjects they can do so, but I hope they will 
not make the mistake that four young people made 
at one conversation social which I attended. They 
placed their chairs close together in a corner, wrote 
their names on each other's cards, and sat and talked 
together on every topic until the talking time was 
over. Instead of thus selfishly enjoying one's inti- 
mate friend's society it is better to seek out the ones 
the others have forgotten. 



44 Fifty Social Evenings. 

32. cradle songs of all nations. 

There is a song book published with the above 
title, which can be secured through any of the large 
music dealers, and which will afford material for a 
charming evening's entertainment. The room * 
should be fitted up as a nursery, with the dainty crib 
and cradle of our American babies, the swinging 
hammock of the Mexican baby, the coffin-like case 
of the Indian papoose, and the fur hood of the Esqui- 
mo infant. 

Large dolls may be used instead of babies, or rag 
dolls may be improvised, but a few real babies will^ 
be greatly enjoyed, even if they are not as still as the 
doll babies. Have the mothers dressed in the cos- 
tumes of the country they represent, and secure as 
many curios and objects illustrating the mode of life 
of the various peoples as possible. An Indian wig- 
wam, a Japanese tea house, or an Esquimo house, 
covered with furs and skins, would give a picturesque 
look to the room. 

The songs should be learned by heart, so that the 
singer will not be obliged to use a book, but will sit 
by the cradle and rock or sway it gently as she sings. 

This is a pretty entertainment to be given by 
Junior Leagues, as the little mothers are more nat- 
ural and less constrained than the older young ladies, 
whose dolls are things of the past. i 

An admission fee may be charged, as a great deal 
of labor and some expense are incurred in its prepa- 
ration. 

33. BIRTHDAY EVENING. 

This is something new and may be made very en- 
joyable if carried out with spirit. A general invita- 



Fifty Social Evenings. 45 

tion is given to old and young, and all are invited to 
bring an offering of as many cents as they are years 
old. Or, if desired, they can, instead, bring as many 
as the date of the month on which the birthday comes. 
For instance, if the birthday is the fifteenth of 
some month, fifteen cents is offered. In this way 
no one gives more than thirty-one cents. On the 
blackboard is written the names of the twelve months 
of the year, and opposite each month the names of 
the famous people who were born in that month. 
These may be found in many of the birthday books 
^.nd albums or almanacs. Some one having charge 
should invite all those whose birthday comes in 
January to rise. These should then be provided 
with seats together, and the next month called upon, 
and this may be continued until all are gathered in 
groups, representing the twelve months of the year. 
Selections in prose and poetry and songs appro- 
priate to the different months are then given. If it is 
desired to make it very picturesque each speaker or 
singer may be dressed to represent some character- 
istic of the month represented. January may be 
dressed to represent the New Year, with bells and 
snowy-draped costume. February could be St. Valen- 
tine's Day. March, a pale green dress trimmed with 
snowdrops and crocuses. April, Fool's Day, a boy 
with cap and bells. May, Tennyson's " Queen of 
the May." June, Lowell's "Day in June," wear- 
ing roses. July, Goddess of Liberty, sings " Star- 
Spangled Banner." August, Dog Day, with Panama 
hat and large fan. September, schoolboy carrying 
strap of books. October, Harvest Day, with autumn 
leaves. November, Thanksgiving Day, with cran- 



4(5 Fifty Social Evenings. 

berries and celery. December, Christmas Day, may 
be Santa Claus. These representations will be 
greatly enjoyed and may be varied to suit the occa- 
sion, as many of our standard authors have written 
sentiments appropriate to the various months of the 
year ; so such selections may be readily found. 

At the conclusion of the program two large birth- 
day cakes should be cut, one by the oldest person 
present and the other by the youngest. Pieces of 
these cakes may be passed to all present, with other 
kinds of cake and ice cream or coffee. 

34. SCRAPBOOK SOCIAL. 

This is particularly appropriate for a Junior League 
entertainment, and may be held in the afternoon if 
desired. Two or three weeks before this social the 
children should be invited to begin saving and col- 
lecting as many pretty pictures, suitable to use in 
making a scrapbook, as possible. 

On the afternoon or evening appointed long tables 
should be prepared, with chairs enough for all the 
children. At each place have a blank scrapbook, 
made of cambric or linen, a small dish of paste, a 
stick swab for applying the paste, and a cloth for 
wiping the hands. 

When all the children are seated the work of the 
evening begins. This is to carefully fill all the scrap- 
books with the pictures brought by the children. 
There should be several adults present to advise and 
assist the little onesTfT the work, and to see that the 
pictures are appropriate and neatly arranged. When 
all the books are completed, a committee may 
examine them and give a small prize to the one 



Fifty Social Evenings. 47 

making the prettiest and neatest scrapbook, if de- 
sired. 

These books can be sent to any children's hospital, 
" Little Wanderer's Home," or they may be placed 
in some snug corner of the next missionary box, to 
be given to wide-awake boys and girls on the other 
side of the world. 

Missionaries tell us that their dark-skinned pupils 
are very fond of pictures, and a Christmas card we 
would throw away they carefully cherish. 

35. COBWEB SOCIAL. 

Cut balls of macrame cord or strong twine into as 
many equal lengths as there are to be players. 

Have all the lengths of twine begin at nearly the 
same place, and have the ends marked with names 
or numbers, that each one may know where to begin 
in unraveling the cobwebs. 

If numbers are used, each one may draw a number 
and then go at once to the end of twine marked with 
that number. At a given signal all begin to unwind 
and untangle the cord which is twined around door 
knobs, table legs, stair railings, curtain rods, and in 
every other available place that can be reached by 
active young people. There must be an endeavor 
to tangle all the cords equally, as well as to have 
them the same length, that there may be no unfair- 
ness. 

Each player is fully occupied in following the 
wandering course of his line of cord, and there is no 
time for talking, except where two or three find their 
lines crossed in a veritable cobweb. The one who 
first reaches the end of the line in his hand is de- 



48 Fifty Social Evenings. 

clared the victor, and the time in which he unraveled 
the cobweb is announced. The others, however, by 
no means give up the quest, but eadi follows up the 
line until all are untangled. The last patient one 
receives a small consolation prize, and ice cream or * 
cold lemonade is sure to be enjoyed after playing 
this game. 

36. COOKING SCHOOL. 

The large crowds before the windows of those 
restaurants where cooking is done in plain sight 
attest the truth of the statement that everybody en- 
joys seeing cooking done. If the young people want rr 
to offer to their friends a supper which shall have the 
flavor of fresh cooking, as well as the flavor of 
novelty, it can be done. Secure six or more oil 
stoves, double burners, and each cook, with as- 
sistants, has the use of one stove. One can make a 
specialty of hot griddle cakes with maple sirup. 
Another can cook and serve oyster stew. Another 
can make a delicious clam chowder. Tomato soup * 
may be served by another, and omelet, cream 
toast, dry toast, and fishballs make up a bill of fare 
sufficiently appetizing for all tastes, and which need 
not severely tax the resources of the young cook. 

These cooks need not all be ladies, for gentlemen 
have a deft movement of the hand in turning 
a griddle cake, and a knack of flavor in an oyster % 
stew that many a woman might envy. 

The meals can be served on the European plan, 
each guest ordering arid paying for what is wanted ; 
or, if it is a free supper, it may be ordered in the 
same way, or small samples of the various eatables 
may be tested. 



JK 



*£ 



Fifty Social Evenings. 49 

A hall or schoolhouse or a private home is better 
for this form of entertainment than a church or 
League room. It is a good way to entertain a visit- 
ing young people's society. 

37. A TOURISTS' SOCIAL. 

Sometimes this takes the form of an imaginary 
journey, and everyone is invited beforehand to 
come prepared with time-tables, most direct routes, 
and interesting facts about the proposed tour. This 
may be made very interesting with the aid of maps 
nd pictures, and if there are no live tourists in your 
town imaginary journeys will do very well. 

But in these days of running "to and fro" you 
are pretty sure to think of some one who has been 
to Washington, another who has visited Niagara 
Falls, a half dozen people who attended the World's 
Fair at Chicago, and probably there will be one or 
more who has traveled in Alaska, Europe, or East. 

All these people may be invited to give a short 
account of where they went, what they saw, and the 
difficulties and dangers they conquered. A small 
table may be set apart for souvenirs and curiosities 
which have been gathered in travel. I have not for- 
gotten the interest a party of young people felt a num- 
ber of years ago, when a learned professor, who had 
spent several years in travel in the Holy Land, al- 
lowed us to taste the contents of two bottles, one of 
which contained water from the Jordan River and 
the other from the Dead Sea. He also permitted us 
to taste of the "husks which the swine did eat." of 
which we read in the parable of the prodigal son, in 
the Bible. If refreshments are served it is well to 
4 



50 Fifty Social Evenings. 

have them put up in small baskets or boxes, as if to 
be taken on a journey. I attended such a social not 
long ago, where dainty homemade sandwiches and 
cake were packed in small paper boxes, and each of 
the tourists was furnished with one. Hot coffee in > 
mugs was served with the lunch, and the guests ate 
and drank informally with all the zest of a picnic, 
without its drawbacks and inconveniences. It is 
surprising the amount of unused talent there is in 
every community, only waiting for some one ^dis- 
cover it and call it into action. Mr. Moody says 
that the one who sets ten men to work does morer 
than the one who does ten men's work ; and every 
entertainer will find this true. 

38. AUTOGRAPH SOCIAL. 

If one young people's society visits another, where 
the members are not acquainted with each other, 
there is apt to be a feeling of constraint and em- 
barrassment. This will be speedily overcome if the \ 
first ten or fifteen minutes are spent in securing auto- 
graphs in the following way : 

As many little blank books are provided as there 
are to be people present, and each person is provided 
with one, together with a pencil, if desired. At a 
given signal call all are invited to begin securing as 
many autographs as possible in the time allowed, 
generally ten minutes. 

Now begins a lively contest. The bashful girl, 
who expected to sit-quietly in a corner all the even^ 
ing, finds herself surrounded by eager young people, 
each begging for her name in their little blank books. 
Each name must be written legibly, and with first 



H 



Fifty Social Evenings. 51 

name complete, middle initial, and last name, as 
follows, "Sylvia H. Smith." Each must write his 
or her own name, and no one can write for another. 
When the time is up a signal is given, and ail must 
cease writing, even if a name is only half written. 

Each person now writes his own name on the out- 
side of the little book, and all are handed in to be 
examined by the committee, and a prize is awarded 
to the one securing the largest number of names. 
The books are afterward given to the owners, and 
are kept as pleasant souvenirs of what is almost sure 
to prove a delightful evening. Some one may say 
this is not enough for a whole evening's entertain- 
ment, and this is true of this as well as of several of 
the social evenings I have described. But in every 
company of young people are those who excel in 
vocal or instrumental music, as well as those who 
can read or recite. These may be called upon to 
supplement the short general exercise which has 
served its purpose in breaking the ice and establish- 
ing a bond of sympathy and good fellowship. 

Besides, there should always be some time given 
up to general conversation and social intercourse, 
and few games or amusements should occupy a 
longer time than half an hour. I am sure my young 
readers will pardon me if I preach a little, as we 
have played so long together. Often open your 
socials with prayer and close them with the song, 
" God be with you till we meet again." 

Perhaps it will not be out of place to suggest here 
that an EpVorth League autograph quilt would be a 
pretty thing to exhibit at such a social. 

The quilt is made of thirty-six squares of white 



52 Fifty Social Evenings. 

bleached cotton cloth, each of which is twelve inches 
square. An equal number of Turkey red Epworth 
League badges, each eight inches square, are care- 
fully cut and sewed on the white squares. A pattern 
by which these are to be cut can be easily made 
from the badge by some one who can draw nicely. 
In the circle, which forms the center of each badge, 
ten names can be written with indelible ink, and 
these, at five or ten cents each, will bring in a good 
sum. A sashing of red, six inches wide, surrounds 
the quilt, which is lined and tied or quilted. 

39. THE FAMILY PICTURE GALLERY. 

A large picture frame may be placed on a table 
in a folding doorway, and the upper part of the 
opening, above the frame, be screened by draperies. 
A number of persons are dressed in antique style, 
and are placed in turn behind the frame, and are 
described as pictures. The drapery in the doorway 
can fall over frame and all while the picture is being 
prepared. At last the portieres are drawn apart, and 
an old lady in cap and spectacles appears. The 
exhibitor explains that this is his maternal grand- 
mother, and tells some amusing story of how she 
captured grandpa, or of some encounter with a bear, 
or any other probable or improbable story. The 
"picture" must not smile during the recital, no 
matter how ridiculous it is. The curtains are then 
drawn, and another picture is prepared. I heard 
a Samantha Allen teid of an old lady describe a 
picture, which she assured us was her "poor, 
dear, brother Joshua." It was of a youngish man, 
with a particularly villainous look, wearing a cap 



a 



Fifty Social Evenings. 53 

rakishly inclining to one side. She told us, 
pathetically, that " Joshua always was a good boy, 
that everybody who knew him loved him when 
he was small, and that he was an uncommonly 
handsome boy." The first statement was as hard 
to believe as the second, and a wicked, foxy look 
seemed to come into the " picture's " eyes when she 
would say, " You can see by his picture that he was 
a good boy." She confided to us at last the fact 
that her dear brother's goodness was not appreciated 
in New York, where he had gone to live, and that, 
-" They have put him in prison for twenty years just 
for making a mistake in the way he signed his name 
to a check." 

Precocious children, simpering schoolgirls, senti- 
mental old maid aunts, and grave preachers and 
professors may be shown and described, and, if the 
exhibitor has made some previous preparation, and 
is skillful in telling a story, it will prove very amus- 
ing. Music, like the songs, "Cousin Jedediah," 
"The Old Homestead," "We've Got to Mortgage 
the Farm," " A Mother's Appeal to her Boy," " Love 
at Home," " Suwanee River," and "A Light in the 
Window," will be enjoyed during waits while the 
pictures are being prepared. Instead of a family 
picture gallery this may be called an historical picture 
exhibit. In the latter case famous pictures should 
be carefully studied and reproduced. 

Stuart's pictures of Washington and Martha Wash- 
ington may be given, " Marie Antoinette on her 
Way to Execution" maybe copied, and "Mary, 
Queen of Scots," Lafayette. Emperor Wilhelm I, 
Bismarck, Gladstone, and Grant maybe represented. 



54 Fifty Social Evenings. 

An historical sketch of each is given as the picture is 
shown, and appropriate songs are sung. 

A good deal of careful thought is necessary in 
selecting persons to represent these historical pic- 
tures, for. though powdered wig and correct cos- * 
tume will do much to transform one, it will not add 
the inch to a man's nose or square a round chin. 

40. GRANDMA'S GARDEN. 

This is a conundrum game and is played like the 
others, with blank cards and pencils. This is in 
order that each may have a little time to guess andf^ 
write down the answers, and is a fairer way of play- 
ing guessing games than calling out the answer can 
be, as, in the latter case, the quickest thinker and 
speaker wins. 

An explanation is made that the flowers to be 
guessed are all old-fashioned ones, such as could be 
found in the fields, woods, and gardens in our grand- 
mother's time. The following conundrums are then * 
read, and copied by each on the card, after which 
the correct answers are written opposite, as follows : 

What was the patriarch's pride? . . (phlox), 

A Roman emperor .....'.. (valerian). 

A delicate purple color (lavender). 

What are missing from single men's 

clothing? (bachelor's buttons). 2 

A bargain counter (ladies' delight). 

A part of every face (tulips). 

What schoolboys play in winter, . . (snowball). 

What Hero said (o-Leander). 

Remember me (forget-me-not). 

A singing bird and a goad .... (lark-spur). 



*. 



Fifty Social Evenings. 55 

A wise man and a stamp . . (Solomon's seal). 

A precise flower (primrose). 

A falsehood and a need (li-lac). 

A part of the eye (iris). 

When school closes at night . . (four o'clock). 

A quality of pine (balsam). 

A girl's name and a metal . . . .(mari-gold). 
A Christmas green and Rhenish 

wine (hoily-hock). 

Early in the day and what heroes 

win (morning-glory). 

A sly animal and a covering for the 

hand (fox-glove). 

What is essential in rich cake . (butter-and-eggs). 
What Hamlet said is '* out of joint " . . (thyme). 
Spinster's favorite color . . . (old maid's pink). 

41. OBSERVATION PARTY. 

A tray of articles is placed on a table in a small 
side room, and a procession of all the persons present 
passes slowly by or around the table. The contest is 
to see which one will observe and afterward write 
down the largest number of articles. A list of 
the articles should be kept by the one in charge, and 
all the lists should be collected and compared with 
the correct list. The one having the largest num- 
ber right wins the prize. It is well to have a prize 
simple and inexpensive, and sometimes amusing. 
One of the prettiest I have seen was a large, white 
peppermint, the size of a saucer, with a bright little 
landscape painted on it in oils. A small box of 
choice candy makes a satisfactory prize, as the re- 
cipient, if generous, often shares it with the others. 



56 Fifty Social Evenings. 

Sometimes, in an observation party, smelling and 
tasting tests are also given. A number of perfumes — 
musk, attar of roses, jockey club, lemon extract, 
peppermint, etc. — are mingled by pouring a small 
quantity of each on a handkerchief, and each person 
is allowed to smell of the handkerchief and write down 
the odors recognized. 

For tasting, a mixture is made of vinegar, salad 
oil, spices, salt, sugar, and any other harmless 
ingredient, and each is allowed a taste— a very small 
taste is usually sufficient. These are recorded in the 
same way. 

As so many of the games in this little book require 
paper and pencils for each person, it may not be out 
of place for me to suggest a cheap and easy way of 
obtaining what can be used in such games. If it is 
understood that pencils are to be used, many will 
come supplied ; however, it is well for a young 
people's society to have a supply of one or two 
dozen to lend to those who have none. A number 
of the large advertising shoe makers, like the Doug- 
las and Emerson Shoe Companies, and some of 
the music dealers, like the Estey Organ Company, 
give away small blank books, in large or small num- 
bers. These little books are very useful in many 
games where written lists are required. 

42. INFORMATION PARTY. 

This game, as described by the " Boston Travel- 
er," is begun by passing to each gentleman a card 
and to the ladies small«pieces of paper, which should 
be numbered. Those who discover the same num- 
ber on their card and paper are partners for the game. 



Fifty Social Evenings. 57 

Each couple must think of a question, sensible or 
ridiculous, historical or in regard to the weather, to 
be written on the cards, after which the cards are to 
be gathered together, and the leader reads each in 
turn, pausing after each question to give time to each 
set of partners to decide on an answer and write it 
down. This is where the fun of the game begins, as 
many of the answers are exceedingly queer. After 
all the questions are asked and the answers, by num- 
ber, written by all, the lists of answers are collected 
and compared by some one or two, who form a com- 
.mittee of examination. This committee should be 
formed of persons well informed on all subjects, that 
they may be able to decide on the correctness of the 
answers. 

Those questions answered correctly are marked 
ten, a wrong answer is marked zero, and if the 
answer is anywhere near right it is marked five. 
When all are added prizes may be given for the best 
and poorest records. 

The instructive part of the game is the discussion 
which follows after the revised lists of answers are 
returned to their owners. 

The height of Bunker Hill Monument, of the 
Washington Monument, the Eiffel Tower, and other 
structures form good questions ; the authorship of 
famous books, like " Robinson Crusoe," " Pilgrim's 
Progress," " Gulliver's Travels," etc., are also in- 
structive ; the discoverers of the earth's motion, 
of electricity, steam, and other powers and forces 
should be learned by the young, and form good 
questions. 

Some may be trusted to ask the nonsensical ques- 



58 Fifty Social Evenings. 

tions that add the needed spice to this form of enter- 
tainment. A young Episcopal rector gave one to a 
party of clerical people, which was as follows : 
4 'Why would one never need starve in the 
desert of Sahara?" Answer, "Because of the * 
sandw(h)iches there." Question, "Where are the 
sandwiches obtained ? " Answer, " The children of 
Ham were bred and mustered there." 

AQ. ACTING CHARADES AND PROVERBS. 

These were perhaps played by our grandmothers, 
but they have again come into such favor that the f*. 
Queen of England and her daughters 'and grand- 
daughters have been amusing their friends at Os- 
borne with elaborate representations of them. 

However, for social use, the more simply they are 
represented the better. The word to be guessed is 
perhaps "interesting." Two or three persons who 
are to represent it come into the room and act out 
the first two syllables of the word by proceeding to ' 
" inter " something. The object I saw used was a 
small stuffed alligator. Small trowels were used and 
he was laid on a fur rug while the supposed earth 
was tenderly thrown over him. The next two 
syllables were represented by the same persons 
" resting " in easy chairs, with feet on hassocks and 
heads on pillows. " Manhattan Island " was repre- 
sented by a man with his hat on. and a young lady 
carrying a basin of water in which was placed a 
flowerpot of earthrto represent the island. Two 
French cities were indicated by two boys wearing 
overcoats, one of which was too long and the other 
too loose (Toulon and Toulouse). "Catacomb" 



Fifty Social Evenings. 59 

was represented by mewing and purring like a cat, 
and producing from the pocket a comb. " Long- 
fellow" was two boys pieced together under a shawl 
on the floor in such a way that the feet and head 
only showed. 

In acting proverbs as many persons are chosen as 
there are words. For instance, in the proverb, 
"Time and tide wait for no man," seven persons 
are needed. The first beats "time" continuously, 
the second holds up his " hand," the third is " tied," 
the fourth holds a paper " weight," the fifth counts 
" four " on his fingers, the sixth shakes his head for 
" no," and the last one is a large " man." This is 
easily guessed, though all the words are not exactly 
right. 

" A rolling stone gathers no moss," is a good prov- 
erb to act. The first person holds a letter "A," the 
second is " rolling " pie crust, the third throws a 
"stone." the next is sewing "gathers," the next 
indicates " no " in pantomime, and the last holds a 
piece of " moss " in his hand. 

44. HISTORIC CHARACTERS AND IMPER- 
SONATIONS. 

Each person, on entering the room, is labeled with 
a name pinned on the back, and without knowing 
who he is, goes about talking with the people and 
attempting to discover his own identity. 

Some one may. perhaps, be marked as " Czar of 
Russia," and he is much puzzled when people ask 
him anxiously if his life is not in peri), and if 
the weather isn't pretty cold where he lives, and it is 
sometime before he really finds himself out. 



-f 



60 Fifty Social Evenings. 

Queen Victoria is puzzled when she is asked if her 
eldest son hasn't been something of a trial to her, 
and whether it is true that she doesn't have a new 
bonnet very often. The questions must not be too 
definite. Historical or literary impersonations are 
given by different ones, each of whom represents a 
character in history or literature. Facts and inci- 
dents in those lives and characters are given, until 
some one guesses and calls out the correct name of 
the character represented. 

For instance, a young lady rises and says, " I was 
a delicate girl of a dreamy and poetic temperament, 
and my early life was passed in England. Because 
of ill health and family bereavements and adversi- 
ties, I had become morbidly sensitive and retiring in 
my disposition. My only comfort and inspiration 
were in study and in writing poems, in which I un- 
consciously pictured my own sad life. 

" Suddenly a new and delightful experience came 
to me. A young English poet, whose obscure and 
rugged style of verse was like a revelation or a 
revolution in English poetry, had read my humble 
verses, and in them read my heart. He came to 
my darkened chamber and lifted my sad, gloomy 
life out into the light and sunshine of his love. We 
were married and soon after sailed to Italy, where I 
found a home in Florence. There my only son was 
born, and there, after many happy years with my 
poet husband. I died and was buried." 

Some one will surely guess that it is the life of 
Elizabeth Barrett Browning. Each person who gives 
an impersonation should give the subject some 
previous study, that the facts may be correct. In 



^J 



Fifty Social Evenings. 61 

this way it will prove an' educational as well as an 

interesting form of entertainment. 

* 

45. PARLOR CONCERT. 

This is a good form of entertainment when the 
young people wish to make a sum of money for 
some cause. 

As it is in a private house no one can complain, 
and it will serve to draw out those with musical talents, 
and will give them something to do. If there are to 
be tickets of admission, have them as dainty and 
artistic as possible. A tiny painted landscape or 
flower, and a little bow of ribbon to harmonize in 
color, will make a ticket which will sell itself. Have 
the tickets all sold in advance, and do not provide for 
any more people than can be comfortably accommo- 
dated. 

A house with large double parlors and halls, and 
with a good piano in. perfect tune, is an ideal place 
&j for a parlor concert. 

Try to have as great variety in the program as 
possible. Piano, guitar, violin, banjo, mandolin, 
autoharp, and harmonica solos and duets may be 
arranged for the instrumental part, and a great 
variety of songs and choruses, together with read- 
ings, recitations, Greek posing, and whistling solos, 
may be interspersed. It may seem amusing for me 
to imagine it possible that any one society of young 
people should possess so much hidden musical talent 
as this liberal list supposes. 

I do not think it likely that the program could be 
made up wholly of home talent, but most musical 
people have friends in other places, who would come 



62 Fifty Social Evenings. 

for their expenses, and thus assist in providing a 
musical treat. 

46. CRAYON SOCIAL. 

The one having charge of this game prepares a * 
long list of animals to be drawn on a blackboard. 

Each person is called up in turn, and privately 
told what animal he is to draw. All the rest of the 
company are in ignorance, and only as the outlines 
of the animal appear on the blackboard are they 
able to guess what it is. 

No one knows before going to the blackboard what^| 
animal he is to draw, and it is often extremely diffi- 
cult to classify the strange beasts that appear, one af- 
ter another, on the board. The pictures are num- 
bered, and against each number on a card all silently 
write down the name of the supposed animal. These 
cards are collected, and the person guessing most 
animals correctly receives a prize. All cards should 
have the owner's name written upon them, that they ' 
may be returned after they are examined. This 
game always causes a great deal of merriment, as 
no one attempts to make a careful or elaborate draw- 
ing. Instead of a variety of animals one is some- 
times chosen for each to draw. This is usually a 
pig, as it is the easiest of all, and can be drawn with 
your eyes shut. , 

Each person is blindfolded and led up to the black- 
board where piggy is drawn, sometimes with his feet 
growing out of his back, and his ears where his curly 
tail ought to be. A committee inspects each pig as he 
is drawn, and decides which one deserves the prize. 

In a small circle composite animals are sometimes 



Fifty Social Evenings. 63 

drawn. One person draws on a sheet of paper a 
head of some animal. The paper is then folded 
down and passed to another, who, without knowing 
what the head is, draws the body. The paper is again 
folded and passed to the third person, who supplies 
the nondescript animal with legs. The fourth fits on 
a tail, and the composite creature is done. These 
are then unfolded and passed around to be laughed 
over. If it is known that such a contest is to take 
place, the study of natural history will be quite gen- 
eral for a few days, and animals in outline sufficient 
to fill a Noah's ark will adorn each waste bit of 
paper. 

47. ILLUSTRATED BOOK TITLES. 

Much amusement is found in representing the 
titles of well-known books and allowing the audience 
to guess them. Each book title is represented by one 
or more persons, who come upon the platform, re- 
main for a short time, and then pass off, to be fol- 
lowed by others. 

Any large catalogue of books will furnish plenty 
of suggestive titles that can be easily illustrated. I 
will give a few which I have used or seen, and which 
are quite«easy to guess. 

"An Old-fashioned Girl." (Girl dressed in old 
style.) 

" Ring and the Book." (Young lady holding ring 
and book.) 

"Lamplighters." (Two boys holding church 
lamplighters.) 

"Little Women." (Two small girls dressed as 
women.) 



1 

64 Fifty Social Evenings. 

"Oliver Twist." (Boy untangling a twisted 
rope.) 

" Middlemarch." (A young lady holds a date, 
"March 15"). 

"Westward, Ho!" (Boy points west with a 4 < 
hoe.) 

"Pink and White Tyranny." (Girl in pink and 
white with scepter.) 

"Woman in White." (Young lady dressed all in 
white.) 

" Six Little Peppers." (Six children, each holding 
a small red pepper.) ^ 

" Red as a Rose is She." (Rosy-cheeked girl in ""'-~- 
red, with rose.) 

"Three Feathers." (Lady with three feathers in 
her hair.) 

" Wing and Wing." (Young lady holding a wing 
in each hand.) 

" Pickwick Papers." (One boy picking lampwick, 
another with papers.) ■ , 

" Sketch Book." (Artist holding sketch book.) 

" Vanity Fair." (Blonde girl looking in a mirror.) 

" Faerie Queene." (Pretty child dressed as fairy 
queen.) 

"Tale of Two Cities." (Chinaman with "Lon- 
don " and " Paris " tied to pigtail.) 

" Lucile." (Girl holding letter with loose seal.) 

"Watch and Wait." (Boy • holds watch and 
weight.) 

"Our Mutual Friend." (Two young men intro- 
ducing a third.) — ^ 

"Hard Cash." (Young man shows handful of 
cash.) 



Fifty Social Evenings. 65 

"Leather Stocking." (Young man wears one 
leather legging.) 

" Madcap Violet." (Girl wearing cap and carry- 
ing a violet.) 

"Dodo." (A young lady carries music paper 
with two notes, "do-do.") 

11 Prince of India." (Young man dressed like 
Indian prince.) 

These titles may be called out by the one recog- 
nizing them first, and a record should be kept, that 
it may be known who has guessed the most correctly. 
^ If a title is given up by all, it should be announced. 
This game is also played by means of cards on 
which are fastened the objects suggesting the book. 
For instance, " The Heavenly Twins " is represented 
by two tiny china dolls sewed on the card ; •' The 
Little Minister" is a picture of a conventional 
clergyman ; " Dred " is a little " D " on a red card ; 
"A Bow of Orange Ribbon " is a small orange rib- 
bon bow on the card ; and this may be continued 
indefinitely. 

These cards are numbered and passed to each one, 
who writes the names of the books down, or else 
the company gather in little groups of three or four, 
and guess the book titles together. 

48. BOOK REVIEWS. 

This is a quiet game, and is best adapted to a 
small company in a home gathering. Each person is 
supplied with a long half sheet of paper and a pencil. 
One person writes the name of a well-known book, 
and, folding what is written down, passes it to the 
next. The second writes at random the name of 
5 



• 



66 Fifty Social Evenings. 



some well-known author, and, folding it again, passes 
it to the third. The third person, and as many others 
who choose, write short, pithy reviews of the unknown 
book, each folding down what he has written so the 
next cannot read it. 

After all have written the whole is read, and it can 
scarcely fail to be highly amusing, and is sometimes 
wonderfully pat, though more frequently it is merely 
ridiculous. For instance, it may read as follows : 

" David Copperfield." By James Russell Lowell. 

'•* This pathetic story of a shipwrecked orphan being 
brought up by cannibals in the South Sea Islands, f-~ 
and at last being discovered by his uncle, the mis- 
sionary, would move a heart of stone to tears." — 
M New York Observer." 

"This book is one of that large class that deal 
with the threadbare subject of a married woman and 
a brainless lover, and it will soon sink into the 
obscurity which it merits." — " Boston Journal." 

" First-rate book, not exactly suited to a Sunday 
school library but bright and brainy." — "Detroit 
Free Press." 

Another book is now started and reviewed in the 
same manner. So many different writers make 
sameness impossible. 

49. FEAST OF ALL NATIONS. 

This is an entertainment with something to eat, 
and with a good variety to suit all tastes. 

Four or five young ladies should be placed in 
charge of as many^tables. and instructed to serve 
a supper in the style of the country assigned to each. 
American, English, French, German, and Chinese, 



■ 



Fifty Social Evenings. 67 

or Japanese, will be found to be acceptable and suf- 
ficient in number. 

The American bill of fare should be written in 
English, and may include the following articles of 
food : Baked beans, brown bread, pumpkin pie, 
Indian pudding, apples, and nuts. The English table 
beasts of roast beef, Yorkshire pudding, plum pud- 
ding, bread and cheese, or Welsh rarebit. The 
French table has rolls, salads, croquettes, omelets, 
and various kinds of sweets, and the bill of fare 
should be written in French, with translation in 
parenthesis. The German table should be provided 
with pretzels, sauerkraut. Frankfort sausages, coffee 
cakes, and perhaps nudel soup, the bill of fare to be 
in German. The Chinese supper should boast of 
exquisite tea, fish soup, bird's nest pudding, stewed 
chicken with rice, and. for dessert, chocolate mice, 
candied ginger root, and lichee nuts. If an obliging 
laundryman lives near, he may write out the bill of 
fare for you in Chinese. 

Each table should be decorated and furnished to 
carry out the idea, and the waiters of each table be 
in appropriate costume. The food may be ordered 
on the European plan, at each table. 

50. SOUVENIR SOCIAL. 

This is a very instructive form of entertainment, 
but requires considerable effort to make it a success. 
Secure as many souvenirs as possible. An old 
Revolutionary musket, a garment worn by some his- 
torical person, an autograph letter from some one 
known to fame, a piece of wood from the wreck of 
the Kearsarge, or any other relic or souvenir that 



68 Fifty Social Evenings. 

may be obtained, should all be placed together on a 
table. After all have examined these articles, a 
short description of each one should be given, either 
by their owners or some one who knows about them. 
Retired ship captains, persons who have traveled a 
great deal, and old people generally have many of 
these interesting souvenirs which they are willing to 
lend. To vary this entertainment a little, sketches 
of the works of famous artists or sculptors may be 
given, and portfolios of illustrated photographs be 
passed around. I recently listened to a bright paper 
giving an account of all the paintings of the Madonna ^***j 
and Child by Raphael, and fine photographs of each 
were passed around for inspection. 

Many who can never hope to see the beautiful 
originals of Raphael's Madonnas in the Vatican, the 
Pitti Palace, and the Louvre, were able by means of 
these correct copies to get some idea of their beauty 
and spirit. Queens and other court beauties may be 
described in the same way, and pictures borrowed 
with which to illustrate and add a living interest to 
the descriptions. 

For good measure we include one more program 
than our title page promised. 

A DOLLAR, EXPERIENCE OR TALENT 
SOCIAL. 

This is a specially helpful form of entertainment 
when it is desired to raise quite a sum of money. 

One hundred or more small envelopes are given 
out to the members^and their friends. On each 
envelope is printed the words, " I promise to earn or 
save the sum of one dollar during the next month," 



Fifty Social Evenings. 69 

The envelopes are to be returned at the close of the 
month with the dollar inclosed, together with a brief 
account of the way in which the money was saved 
or earned. It makes a very entertaining evening's 
amusement listening to the reading of these 
varied experiences. One lady 1 know boarded 
a pet dog while his mistress was away, another 
upholstered a chair for a neighbor, a young man 
shaved himself and saved the money, and one 
young lady saved her horse-car fare and walked two 
miles to her work every morning. This is her heroic 
Y account of it : 

11 Epworth League, Epworth League, Epworth 

League onward ! 
Bring I my pennies now. Here's my one hundred. 
Through the dark city's street, 
Braving its cold and sleet, 
Walked I with weary feet, 
Here's my one hundred." 

And so she earned her dollar. 
One lady, of domestic tastes, made up a quantity 
of small plum pies and sold them to her neighbors ; 
she also agreed to sew on any missing buttons 
for the modest sum of five cents each. Business 
was good, and her dollar was quickly earned. Her 
P account of her experience was also in rhyme. It 
ended thus : 

" If you want men to give to a good enterprise, 
Just sew on their buttons and feed them with pies." 

I have often been asked to suggest ways of earning 
and saving money for such an offering, and besides 



* 



70 Fifty Social Evenings. 



those I have mentioned I will name a few others 
which have been or may be used profitably : 

Homemade candy ; nice doughnuts, cookies, tarts, 
or other small cakes, to be sold for a penny each ; 
collect and sell waste paper and rags, knit and sell 1 
mittens or wristers, crochet edging, embroider doil- 
ies or tidies, or, if you are able, paint and sell calen- 
dars or plaques. The selling is the hardest part, but 
some child will be salesman for you if a small re- 
ward is given. 

Sometimes a small amount of money is given to 
each person, and he is supposed to do business f^ T\ 
with this, increasing it thirty, sixty, or a hundred 
fold. The materials are bought with the penny, 
nickel, or dime, as the case may be, and a number 
of business transactions are required before the 
desired amount is obtained. 

I do not need to suggest ways by which the money 
may be saved, for that is done by self-denial, and 
money given as a result of self-denial is the worthiest 
gift of all. 

My wish, in closing the account of our fifty social 
evenings, is that you may enjoy carrying them out 
as much as I have enjoyed writing about them. 



THE END. 






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